Judge
California Judge Rules Visa Can Be Tried as MindGeek's 'Co-Conspirator'
A controversial California federal judge ruled on Friday against Visa’s request to be dismissed from a lawsuit alleging it “conspired” with MindGeek to profit from CSAM.
Plaintiffs Urge Judge to Strip Reddit of Section 230 Protections Over UGC
A proposed class of plaintiffs currently appealing a dismissed lawsuit against Reddit, alleging that the platform “knowingly benefits from lax enforcement of its content polices, including for child pornography," filed an opening appellate brief this week renewing their claim that Section 230 protections should not shield the social media platform.
Alabama Federal Judge Denies Section 230 Immunity to MindGeek, Claims Pornhub Is a Publisher
An Alabama federal judge today shut down MindGeek’s petition to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by Jane Does over content posted on Pornhub that allegedly depicts instances of their human trafficking, claiming that Section 230 protections over third-party content do not apply because the company exercised “extensive control over the development of pornographic content on their websites.”
Judge Dismisses Backpage.com-Related Lawsuit Against Salesforce
A California appeals court sided with Salesforce last week and dismissed a lawsuit by 50 “Jane Does” claiming that the cloud-based software company was liable for their alleged sex trafficking because it had provided services to the now-defunct classifieds site Backpage.com.
Judge Grants 402 Models Copyrights to Their GirlsDoPorn Content
In an unusual decision, U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino granted an order of restitution Friday transferring the copyright of hundreds of GirlsDoPorn videos to the models who appear in them.
Backpage Case: Controversial Judge Brnovich Recuses Herself
The controversial federal judge who presided over the trial of former Backpage.com owners Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin — which already ended in one mistrial before being rescheduled for next year — has decided to recuse herself.
Alt Erotic to Judge 'Pro Penis Riders' Event in Las Vegas
Alt Erotic performers and personnel will take part in the upcoming “Pro Penis Riders World Finals" at The Nerd video game bar in Las Vegas on Friday, November 5.
Kentucky Judge Declares Porn Clips 'More Distracting' Than Other Visual Content
The legal status of porn videos as a specific kind of content has unexpectedly emerged as a side issue during a Kentucky murder trial currently underway, with a judge declaring adult content to be more distracting than "a typical movie.”
Florida Judge: Cops Can Decide What is 'Obscene' While Making Arrests
Florida Judge Marcia Morales Howard ruled this week that police officers who arrested and charged a local man for “obscenity” over a First Amendment-protected rear-window sticker reading “I EAT ASS” are not liable for the financial and emotional harm they caused the driver, thanks to the controversial doctrine of “qualified immunity.”
Judge Declares Mistrial in Backpage.com Case
Judge Susan Brnovich declared a mistrial this morning in the federal trial of former Backpage.com owners Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin, which started earlier this month in Phoenix.
Virginia: Judge Rules Novelty Flag Is 'Obnoxious but Not Obscene'
A dispute between Virginia neighbors morphed into an obscenity trial after a Fauquier County farmer hung a flag reading “Eat a Giant Bag of Dicks” under a picture of a unicorn giving two middle fingers.
Martha's Vineyard Case: Judge Nixes Questions About Anti-Porn Prejudice
A Massachusetts judge presiding over the trial involving a Martha's Vineyard landlord who is suing Mile High Media and several associates for a 2014 incident involving artwork in her rental property — which she claimed could be seen onscreen in several adult videos — rejected the defense’s proposed questions for potential jurors about prejudicial views and attitudes about pornography.
Georgia Judge Orders Tokyo Valentino Location Shuttered
A Cobb County Superior Court judge has ordered a Tokyo Valentino store closed as the adult boutique awaits an appeal over a zoning and licensing dispute instigated by local officials who oppose “sexually oriented businesses” in the Atlanta-area city of East Cobb.
Texas Judge Upholds Under-21 Stripper Ban, Claims 'Belief' It May Curb 'Human Trafficking' Trumps 1st Amendment
A U.S. District Court Judge in Texas has denied a proposed preliminary injunction against the recent state law preventing sex workers aged 18-21 from being employed at strip clubs and other “sexually oriented businesses.”
UPDATED: Florida Judge Orders Seizure and Sale of 'Flava Works' Assets
A Miami federal judge ordered the seizure and sale of much of the IP of gay studio Flava Works yesterday, after a protracted legal battle with dating platform Adam for Adam (A4A).
MindGeek Lawyers Ask Alabama Judge to Uphold Section 230 Protections
MindGeek lawyers presented this week their first on-record Section 230 arguments in the current onslaught of liability lawsuits over third-party content uploaded onto Pornhub, part of the War on Porn-driven campaign that kicked off with Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times article in early December 2020.
Florida Judge Halts Controversial 'Free Speech' Law
A Florida court enjoined last week the implementation of Florida’s controversial new law making social media platforms liable for moderation policies, in the name of political — but not sexual — "free speech."
84-Year-Old 'Senior Judge' Assigned to Civil Case Against MindGeek
The judge assigned to preside over the beginning of the massive civil lawsuit against MindGeek, which will hinge on complex issues of third-party uploaded content on online platforms, Section 230 liability and internet moderation, is 84-year-old Consuelo Bland Marshall, appointed by Jimmy Carter in 1980.
E L James to Judge Lovehoney 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Art Competition
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of "Fifty Shades of Grey," Lovehoney has launched an art competition with "Grey" author E L James herself serving on the judging panel.
Strike 3: California Judge OKs Subpoena to Identify IP Address of Subscriber
A Southern California U.S. district court judge last week granted Strike 3 Holdings permission to subpoena internet service provider Spectrum in order to obtain the name and address of the subscriber behind a specific IP address that the company — which owns the copyrights of content produced by the Vixen Media Group brands — alleges has been “downloading and distributing their films.”